A Phenomenolgical Study of Bullying Experienced by Graduate Students and Faculty Through the Lens of Power Anne Bodensteiner
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University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects January 2017 A Phenomenolgical Study Of Bullying Experienced By Graduate Students And Faculty Through The Lens Of Power Anne Bodensteiner Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Recommended Citation Bodensteiner, Anne, "A Phenomenolgical Study Of Bullying Experienced By Graduate Students And Faculty Through The Lens Of Power" (2017). Theses and Dissertations. 2172. https://commons.und.edu/theses/2172 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A PHENOMENOLGICAL STUDY OF BULLYING EXPERIENCED BY GRADUATE STUDENTS AND FACULTY THROUGH THE LENS OF POWER by Anne Rachel Bodensteiner Bachelor of Science, University of North Dakota, 2007 Master of Science, North Dakota State University, 2010 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Teaching & Learning: Higher Education Grand Forks, North Dakota December 2017 Copyright 2017 Anne Bodensteiner ii This dissertation, submitted by Anne Bodensteiner in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of North Dakota, has been read by the Faculty Advisory Committee under whom the work has been done and is hereby approved. _______________________________________ Dr. Myrna Olson, Committee Chair _______________________________________ Dr. Kathy Smart, Committee Member _______________________________________ Dr. Carolyn Ozaki, Committee Member _______________________________________ Dr. Joshua Hunter, Committee Member This dissertation is being submitted by the appointed advisory committee as having met all of the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of North Dakota and is hereby approved. ____________________________________ Grant McGimpsey Dean of the School of Graduate Studies _______________________________________ Date iii PERMISSION Title A Phenomenological Study of Bullying Experienced by Graduate Students and Faculty Through the Lens of Power Department Teaching and Learning Degree Doctor of Philosophy In presenting this dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the library of this University shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my dissertation work or, in her absence, by the Chairperson of the department or the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this dissertation or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my dissertation. Typed Name: Anne Bodensteiner Date: November 27, 2017 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................x ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................1 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................3 Research Questions ......................................................................................3 Researcher’s Interest in the Study................................................................4 Power as a Theoretical Framework ..............................................................5 Power relations.................................................................................7 Strategy ............................................................................................8 Statement of the Problem .............................................................................8 Significance of the Study .............................................................................9 Definitions....................................................................................................9 Study Delimitations .....................................................................................9 Organization of the Study ..........................................................................10 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ..........................................................................12 Bullying and Power....................................................................................12 Bullying and Power in the Context of the University ....................14 Prevalence of Bullying ...............................................................................21 Prevalence of bullying for graduate students .................................21 Prevalence of bullying in the university workplace .......................23 Gender and Bullying ..................................................................................24 Characteristics of Bullies ...........................................................................26 Effects of Bullying on Victims ..................................................................29 Mental health and bullying ............................................................29 Academic motivation and achievements .......................................30 Bullying Experiences .................................................................................32 Prevention and Intervention Strategies ......................................................34 Summary ....................................................................................................34 III. METHODS AND PROCEDURES..................................................................36 Design of the Study ....................................................................................36 Phenomenology as a methodological approach .............................37 Data Collection and Procedure ..................................................................40 Participant selection and recruitment .............................................40 Data Collection ..............................................................................43 Participants .................................................................................................46 Biographical Sketch of Participants ...............................................47 Analysis of Data .........................................................................................51 Trustworthiness ..........................................................................................54 Researcher bias ..............................................................................55 Reactivity .......................................................................................56 Triangulation ..................................................................................57 Rich data ........................................................................................57 Member checks ..............................................................................57 Summary ....................................................................................................57 IV. PRESENTATION OF THE FINDINGS .........................................................59 The Power Paradigm in Higher Education ................................................61 Differentiation ................................................................................62 Institutionalization .........................................................................68 Types of Objectives .......................................................................77 Instrumental Modes .......................................................................82 Rationalization ...............................................................................97 Impact ......................................................................................................103 Self-doubt .....................................................................................104 Mental and Physical Health .........................................................106 Mitigating Bullying in Higher Education ................................................109 Support Systems...........................................................................109 System of Accountability .............................................................110 Essence .....................................................................................................111 V. DISCUSSION OF FINGINGS RELEVANT TO THE LITERATURE .......113 Power and Bullying within Higher Education .........................................113 Impact on Graduate Students and Faculty ...............................................121 Summary ..................................................................................................122